ronald reagan 1,276 during their eight year tenures. >>> it's the first of three opportunities voters have to see president obama and romney face to face before the november election. ken pritchett tells us both campaigns are trying to manage expectations even before the candidates take the stage. >> reporter: if you listen to the romney campaign they're candidate has a tough road at the university of denver. >> president obama, he's a very gifted speaker. the man has been on the national stage for many years he's an experienced debater. >> reporter: but romney has extensive debater. >> no, governor romney he's a good debater. i'm just okay. >> it is a flurry of unusual compliments, but who's winning the battle to lower expectations? >> i think actually president obama is in part because it's partly true. he's not been a good debater so he has a better argument. >> reporter: but u.s. political science professor cook says the romney campaign has been playing the expectations game both ways. >> coming out the conventions until now. certainly for the romney campaign hasn't been positive